Beyond Frankenstein - robotic systems - Brief Article

Ecologist, The, Nov, 2000

Researchers at Brandeis University recently announced a computerised system that automatically creates, evolves, improves and builds a variety of mobile creatures without significant human intervention. According to The International Herald Tribune, experts are convinced that exponential growth in computing power may soon put robotic systems within reach of the kind of brainpower that could ultimately put humanity out of business.

Carnegie Mellon, for example, has devised self-directing tractors that harvest around the clock in California, combining location information from global positioning sensors with video image processing that identifies rows of uncut crops.